South took a moment to analyze the opening lead. It certainly was not from jack doubleton or jack third. A lead from either of those holdings gives away a trump trick on many layouts. It must be either a singleton jack or a deceptive lead from queen-jack doubleton. South stole a glance at the opening leader — noted his top hat, craggy features and dark beard — and decided he was an honest man.

Declarer won the trump lead in hand and led a diamond to the board's king, West splitting his honors. Next came the seven of trumps from dummy, declarer letting it run when East played low. Success! South repeated the trump finesse, finished drawing trumps, then led a club to knock out the ace. The king of spades was a late entry to the clubs and South had 10 tricks — five hearts, one spade and two tricks in each minor.

Note that if South misreads the trump position and cashes both the ace and king, the defense can always prevail. Say declarer leads a club at trick three. West wins and plays a low spade, threatening to give East a ruff. Dummy wins the king and cashes two club tricks while South discards his remaining two spades. Next comes a trump toward his 10. East rises with the queen and plays his remaining spade. South can ruff this and draw trumps, but he uses his last trump in the process. When he concedes a diamond, West will have a black winner for the fourth defensive trick.